Matiang’i wants Chancellors to lead VCs appointment process

September 30, 2016 9:32 am

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By SIMON NDONGA, This is part of the proposals made during the 2nd Roundtable Discussion on Policies, regulations and standards for University Education. Photo/FILE.NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 30 – Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i says Chancellors should lead the vetting process during appointment of public university Vice Chancellors to enhance transparency.

This is part of the proposals made during the 2nd Round-table Discussion on Policies, regulations and standards for University Education.

“The Chancellors could chair a forum where a section of members of the Senate of the respective University, Student leadership and alumnae could interrogate shortlisted candidates for Vice Chancellors,” he said in the wake of wrangles at Moi University where local leaders have rejected Prof Laban Ayiro whom he named to be Vice Chancellor in an acting capacity.

Governors Jackson Mandago and his Uasin Gishu counterpart Alex Tolgos are already under an active police investigation for leading a crowd to the university to eject the professor, while demanding that Professor Isaack Kosgey takes over after leading in a recruitment process.

Matiang’i however, insists that he followed the law in appointing an acting Vice Chancellor, and has called for patience until the recruitment process is completed.

In the Friday statement sent to newsrooms, Matiang’i said politicization and tribalism in universities was undermining their capacities and emphasised the need to establish and strengthen the infrastructure needed for provision of quality higher education.

Matiang’i also asked the chancellors to explore ways of building capacities for University managers on leadership and management with a view to improving their ability to provide effective leadership and management of higher education institutions.